Serious woodworkers can’t do without a heavy duty workbench in their shops; however, there are times that you would need to work outdoors or in other locations. The solution would be to have a portable woodworking bench that is not only light enough to move around, but sturdy, too.
There are many types of portable benches. There are the ones you can fold, there are the tiny ones that you can carry around, and there are the ones that roll around on wheels. Instead of buying a new one, you can make one. If you want to take a crack at it, here are the steps for making a mobile woodworking bench:
A. What you’ll need
* Oak Trim (2) 1″x2″ x 6′
* Oak Trim (2) 1″x2″ x 8′
* Pine Board (4) 2″x6″ x 8′
* Pine Board (8) 2″x6″ x 4′
* Pine Board (8) 2″x4″ x 3′
* 3/4″ plywood (1) 4’x8′
* 3″ Caster Wheels (2)
* Rotating & Locking Caster Wheels (2)
* Mounting Screws for caster wheels
* 3″ Construction Screws
* 2″ Construction Screws
* 8 x 5″ x 1/2″ Carriage Bolts, washers, and nuts
* Polyurethane
* Paint Brush
* Palm Sander
* Belt Sander
* Circular saw
* Power Drill
B. How to do it
Step 1:
Build the bench framework upside down. This way, it will be easier to add wheels. Using a combination of drilling screws and pocket holes from the outside for strength, assemble two frames with the 2×6 boards. Use the shorter boards to add slats to the frame for support.
Step 2:
The 2×4 boards will serve as legs. Attach them to one of the frames with the carriage bolts. Cut a small piece off of the remaining half of the boards and use them on the inside of the legs. This will serve as a place for the cross beam to form a joint when you attach the second frame. Trim off the piece that you’ve cut and secure it on top of the cross beam just like a puzzle piece.
Step 3:
After the frame and the legs have been put together, it’s time to add the wheels. Decide which will be the front of the bench and which will be the rear part. Attach the rotating ad locking caster wheels to the front end of the frame and the regular ones to the back end. It will work just like a shopping cart. When the wheels are securely attached, flip the table right side up for the next step.
Step 4:
Attach the oak trim to the edges of the plywood to make a tabletop. This not only looks nice; it will protect the plywood as well. It’s also a great place to attach clamps. Using a belt sander, smoothen the surface of the table and then finish with a palm sander. Using a paintbrush, stain the tabletop with polyurethane. When it’s dry, center the tabletop on top of the frame and screw in to secure.
Step 5:
If you have excess lumber, you can create and attach a handle-slash-multipurpose rack to the back end of the bench to make it easier to maneuver the bench as you’re moving it. It’s only optional, of course.
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